Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomenco’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsomenco’, characterized by its dark red-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomenco’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomenco’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during September 2007. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence form having imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding selection coded E30-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by its single-type, red-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of 7 proprietary breeding selections coded E30-1 through E30-7, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by their single-type, shades of red-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during October 2008 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation since October 2008 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomenco’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-orange colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and possible male parents primarily in having wider ray florets, and in having a better branched habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Tangerine Dream’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,773. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Tangerine Dream’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter ray florets than         plants of ‘Tangerine Dream’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets than plants         of ‘Tangerine Dream’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Tangerine Dream’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsomenco’. The plants were grown in one gallon containers for 12 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsomenco’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsomenco’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2013 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in one-gallon containers under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsomenco. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding             selection coded E30-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.         -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of 7 proprietary breeding             selections coded E30-1 through E30-7, U.S. Pat. No.             7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 18 weeks from a rooted             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright,             herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 48.0 cm. Width: Approximately 44.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             8.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             31.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 5.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:             144A to 144B occasionally with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire,             slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             10.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.1 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest 137A with venation of             147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:             Closest to 138B with venation of 147D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 6.3 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered             with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomenco’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 12. Height:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.5 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 11.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color: 144A to 144B occasionally with an             overlay of 187A.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 8. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.9 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 10B tinted with 60C and with a bud             center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 15.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Perpendicular to             disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic to narrowly             obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate             to notched. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.3 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper             surface when first open: N25A to N25B with base of 46B.             Color of lower surface when first open: 10D with an overlay             of 60C. Color of upper surface when fully open: N25A with an             overlay of N34A base of 46A. Color of lower surface when             fully open: 155D with an overlay of 60C.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 270. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 144B with tips of             183C. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully             open: Tips of 183C, mid-section of 144A to 144B tinted with             183C, and base of 145D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 40.             Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 to             3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture             of lower or outer surface: Moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower             surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 270. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.3 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             167B with 187C, mid-section of 144A and base of 145D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to N186A. Filament length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate to             abundant. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium: Present on disc             florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma color:             187A. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 144D.             Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomenco’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 